Weighted surgical retractor systems

Abstract

This document provides surgical retractor devices and systems. For example, this document provides a weighted surgical retractor system. In one example embodiment, this document provides a weighted Deaver retractor system that includes a selectable amount of weight that can be releasably coupled to a shaft of the retractor. The surgical retractors provided herein can be used during a variety of surgical procedures, including surgical procedures performed on the abdomen, thoracic regions, limbs, and so on. In some embodiments, the surgical retractors provided herein are well-suited for retraction of the vaginal canal for hysterectomy surgery, and for other procedures for which vaginal retraction is necessary.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical retractor system comprising:
 a retractor shaft member, the retractor shaft member including a distal working end and a proximal weighted end; 
 a base weight member that is fixed directly to the retractor shaft member at the proximal weighted end; and 
 multiple weight members that are each shaped and sized to be: (i) stacked directly on the base weight member; (ii) stacked directly on each other; and (iii) releasably coupled directly to the retractor shaft member at the proximal weighted end, 
 wherein each weight member of the multiple weight members comprises a protrusion and defines a hole, wherein the protrusions are sized and shaped to fit in the holes, and wherein stacking the multiple weight members directly on each other results in physical engagement of the protrusions in the holes of adjacent weight members of the stacked multiple weight members. 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal working end includes a roughened surface that is configured to have a higher coefficient of friction between the roughened surface and tissue of a patient than are other surfaces of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
       3. The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal working end includes a portion that is concaved. 
     
     
       4. The surgical retractor system of  claim 3 , wherein the concaved portion includes a roughened surface that is configured to have a higher coefficient of friction between the roughened surface and tissue of a patient than are other surfaces of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
       5. The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal working end includes a kidney-shaped portion. 
     
     
       6. The surgical retractor system of  claim 5 , wherein the kidney-shaped portion includes a roughened surface that is configured to have a higher coefficient of friction between the roughened surface and tissue of a patient than are other surfaces of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
       7. The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal working end of the retractor shaft member is releasably coupleable with a distal end portion of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
       8. The surgical retractor system of  claim 7 , wherein the distal working end includes at least three retractor arms. 
     
     
       9. The surgical retractor system of  claim 8 , wherein two of the at least three retractor arms are configured to deliver lateral retraction. 
     
     
       10. The surgical retractor system of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of the distal end portion of the retractor shaft member has scalloped lateral sides. 
     
     
       11. The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a light source that is coupleable to the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
       12. The surgical retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein each weight member of the multiple weight members defines a slot that extends to a centrally located bore, wherein the slot is sized to slidably receive the retractor shaft member so that the retractor shaft member can be positioned in the centrally located bore, and wherein the centrally located bore is shaped to allow the weight member to be rotated about the retractor shaft member to radially lock the weight member onto the retractor shaft member while allowing longitudinal movement of the weight member relative to the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
       13. A surgical retractor system comprising:
 a retractor shaft member, the retractor shaft member including a distal working end and a proximal weighted end; 
 a base weight member that is fixed directly to the retractor shaft member at the proximal weighted end; and 
 multiple weight members that are each shaped and sized to be: (i) stacked directly on the base weight member; (ii) stacked directly on each other; and (iii) releasably coupled directly to the retractor shaft member at the proximal weighted end, 
 wherein each weight member of the multiple weight members comprises a first side that has a protrusion and a second side that defines a receptacle that is sized and shaped to receive the protrusion, wherein the first and second sides of the multiple weight members are opposite sides, and wherein stacking the multiple weight members directly on each other results in physical engagement of the protrusions in the receptacles of adjacent weight members of the stacked multiple weight members. 
 
     
     
       14. The surgical retractor system of  claim 13 , wherein the distal working end includes a roughened surface that is configured to have a higher coefficient of friction between the roughened surface and tissue of a patient than are other surfaces of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
       15. The surgical retractor system of  claim 13 , wherein the distal working end includes a portion that is concaved and has a roughened surface that is configured to have a higher coefficient of friction between the roughened surface and tissue of a patient than are other surfaces of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
       16. The surgical retractor system of  claim 13 , wherein the distal working end includes a kidney-shaped portion, wherein the kidney-shaped portion includes a roughened surface that is configured to have a higher coefficient of friction between the roughened surface and tissue of a patient than are other surfaces of the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
       17. The surgical retractor system of  claim 13 , wherein the distal working end of the retractor shaft member is releasably coupleable with a distal end portion of the retractor shaft member, wherein the distal working end includes at least three retractor arms, wherein two of the at least three retractor arms are configured to deliver lateral retraction. 
     
     
       18. The surgical retractor system of  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the distal end portion of the retractor shaft member has scalloped lateral sides. 
     
     
       19. The surgical retractor system of  claim 13 , further comprising a light source that is coupleable to the retractor shaft member. 
     
     
       20. The surgical retractor system of  claim 13 , wherein each weight member of the multiple weight members defines a slot that extends to a centrally located bore, wherein the slot is sized to slidably receive the retractor shaft member so that the retractor shaft member can be positioned in the centrally located bore, and wherein the centrally located bore is shaped to allow the weight member to be rotated about the retractor shaft member to radially lock the weight member onto the retractor shaft member while allowing longitudinal movement of the weight member relative to the retractor shaft member.